Lately, kitchen design is all about 3 major concepts: eco-friendliness, low-maintenance/accessibility, and entertainment. We’ll go over how each of these impacts how kitchens are being designed.
First, sustainability is big. As Americans become more eco-conscious, we are seeking to implement more ways to help the environment. This includes integrating compost containers, choosing more energy-efficient appliances, and opting for LED lighting (which, you may remember, is very efficient and bright lighting).
Second, food culture is growing. This has many impacts on the kitchen. For one, people are valuing an efficient, easy space to maintain so they can enjoy more cooking and less cleaning. This spills over into what materials are chosen, which appliances are bought, and storage options.
There’s another aspect that impacts kitchen design with the growth of American foodies: the kitchen becomes an entertainment space. Not only is food a thing to gather around, but cooking is as well. To facilitate this, try making comfortable spaces in your kitchen for guests, like cushioned seats off the island. Also, opt for a more open kitchen design so that conversation is easy to maintain.
Now that we’re familiar with the big ideas in kitchen design, let’s tackle what specific materials are being used in countertops. Quartz was the top material chosen in 2013, with 80% of Americans opting for it. This is due in large part to quartz being durable with reliable patterning. Quartz, however, isn’t the only option – porcelain and ceramic are also common choices. Concrete countertops, too, are making an appearance. They can be a good choice for their malleability and inexpensive cost.
As far as the general color scheme goes, here are the top 3 choices:
- Whites
- Off Whites
- Grays
Notice a pattern? These colors are good because of their neutrality, but also because they are bright enough to expand the look of the space as well as are adaptable to the looks of many appliances and materials in countertops and flooring.
This color scheme carries over into cabinetry as well, where 67% of Americans opted for white painted cabinetry. Two-tone cabinets and hydraulic doors are also popular. Some, however, prefer not to have cabinets at all – open shelving has recently become popular as way to open up the look of the kitchen and display all your dishware.
Finally, we have some general suggestions for you to play around with when redesigning your kitchen:
- Try combining finishes you wouldn’t normally think to. You may end up with something that looks great and unique!
- Opt for either extra-large floor tiles or wood flooring with interesting grain patterns.
- Mix warm wood with cool marble for a welcoming ambience and a great-looking space.
For more information – and there is way more to be had – check out the infographic below! We hope this was helpful to getting your kitchen up to speed on the latest trends in design.
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